Saturday, December 6, 2025

Bill Stewart 1967

  


Today Bill Stewart's guest is Rudy Vallee.  Rudy was the biggest of the big in the 1920s and kept going for five decades.  It's a fun listen.



Jim Pewter 1968

 

Nice work if you can get it. (courtesy and copyright of Playground Productions)

In 1967 Jim was managing Forever Records.  They put out a two record set to benefit the USO.  "Jim Pewter Salutes the USO Shows with 21 Hits From The Past"  I've got to pick up a copy.  Jim shared this original artwork picture with 21 teen models in Pasadena.





Don Tracy 1984

  


No holding some people back.  Don was in Hartford, parlayed that into Los Angeles.  At the top of his game was doing the AFRTS show for a long time.  Thanks Don!

Don Tracy - 1984

More Don Tracy

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Diego Garcia 1995 Stephen Payne

 





Stephen joined the United States Navy in 1991. He graduated from Defense Information School (DINFOS) at Fort Benjamin Harrison. He was a Navy broadcaster during his deployment in Diego Garcia, in the British Indian Ocean. By the time of Stephen’s Honorable Discharge in 1996, he held the role of Journalist Third Class, and he was awarded two Navy commendation medals as well as a Navy Achievement Medal. On this visit Stephen is with Marine Elizabeth Allen.

Stephen passed away in 2025 at 56 years old.


Stephen Payne - Diego Garcia 1995


Friday, November 28, 2025

Chris Noel 1968

 


The face of home to thousands of Vietnam era troops was Chris Noel.  She has spent the past several years running a homeless shelter for vets, in Florida "Ceasefire House" click here.  Our less fortunate brothers need your help.  Please consider helping.

A few years ago Chris sent her collection of shows to us so that we could hear them again.  Thanks Chris!!!

Here's a memory of 1968...



Joe Ferguson 1983

  




A young Joe Ferguson had done some shows as a dependent at the stations.  Years later Joe was jocking in Portland OR.  AFRTS had done one of the coolest things they ever did.  Asked jocks from around the country if they'd like to do shows for the network.  Joe saved his copies and made them available/  Thank you Joe!


Thursday, November 20, 2025

John Doremus 1968

  



Amazing set of pipes and smooth.  John Doremus had evening music for many years.  Similar to what Jim Ameche did earlier and what Pete Smith did later but smoother and bigger.  He had recorded Music Through the Night shows sponsored by the airlines that ran on the biggest AM clear channel stations in the country.  He also was the one that started syndicating in flight music.



AFVN Jim Huntley 1970

 


Years ago I was talking with Bob Casey.  Bob had quite the story.  One of the things he did at AFVN was start the Million Dollar Music oldies show.  After he left the show continued.  Here's Jumpin' Jim Huntley

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Mary Helen Barro 1983

  


Mary Helen Barro, "la voz de su casa" She carried on on the Latino tradition of Chiquita, Victor, Hernan Escodon and others.



Saturday, November 15, 2025

Ira Cook 1965

   

Ira Cook with Elvis Presley

Ira started with us in 1960, still there 20 years later.



Joe Allison 1969

 


Joe Allison really was country music, starting as a DJ in Texas in 1945.  He went on tour hosting Tex Ritter and got Tex to record one of his songs.  From there, Nashville radio until going to a station in Pasadena CA.  Penning "He'll Have To Go". Later to run the country department of Dot Records.  Starting in the mid 60s Joe was recording the Country Corner for AFRTS.



Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Veterans Day 1963




 Today is Veterans Day in the United States.  Originally the holiday was Armistice Day, to commemorate the end of WWI.  



Monday, November 10, 2025

Wolfman Jack 1979

  


Let's revisit 1979. I was 22, in Korea and don't remember most of the year. I met Wolfman at LAX when I came Stateside. Only time I was ever totally speechless at meeting a celebrity. Play it loud!



Hear Wolfman Jack every day at 3am on www.mybestsounds.com

Mary Turner 1992

     



It was a scandal.  In the early 80s when the network started the Mary Turner show.  Loud Rock and Roll.  What will the generals say?  We'll find out.  Mary brought her KMET show to the world and it was a very good thing.



Chris Noel 1969

 

A life of service.  In 1969 that service was with AFRTS.  Thank you Chris.

Hear Chris Noel every day at 11pm Central on www.mybestsounds.com



Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Golden Days Of Radio - War of the Worlds

 


Frank Bresee is back with another look at radio's golden days.  Today, the exciting conclusion of "War Of The Worlds".

Hear the Golden Days Of Radio every day at 8pm Central on www.mybestsounds.com


 

Monday, October 20, 2025

Jim Pewter 1970

 


In 1970 Guenther was in Germany listening to the Americans on AFN.  He saved a lot of it.
Here's a 1970 visit.

Be sure to hear Jim at 6pm Central on www.mybestsounds.com



Herman Griffith 1967

     




Martha Reeves and the Vandellas "Jimmy Mack"

"Time for something for the brave and the bold, it's the Records Caravan".  The music was changing.  Herman made it better.

Hear Herman weekdays at 3pm Central on www.mybestsounds.com


Sunday, October 5, 2025

Spotlight Bands - Fort Devens MA 1945

 



Mostly, I try to stay away from CONUS network radio shows.  Spotlite Bands is a little different.  During WWII Coca-Cola sponsored the top bands in America playing at military bases in the US and to be recorded for AFRS.  Here's Charlie Barnet, playing at Lovell General Hospital, Ft Devens MA


Joe Ferguson

  


Joe Ferguson was one of the jocks from all over the country sharing his skills in an experiment AFRTS tried in the early 80s.  He shared these shows and I'll always be grateful.

Hear Joe every day at 11:00am Central www.mybestsounds.com 



Roger Carroll 1970



Here's Roger at the Hollywood Palladium

Roger spent decades with us and did some wonderful radio.  His day job was at KMPC but he grabbed a lot of announcing work at the civilian networks.  A few years ago he shared his collection with us and I'm glad I can help share it.

Roger did some very stylish radio.  But you've never heard it  begin quite like this...

Hear Roger every morning at 9am Central on www.mybestsounds.com

 

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Charlie Tuna 1982

 



It's summer 1982, I'm enjoying life in what was left of the Canal Zone and Charlie Tuna had us staying Tuna'd

Hear Charlie every morning at 8:00 Central at www.mybestsounds.com




Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Gene Price 1980

  

Gene Price, Charlie Tuna and Jim Pewter

So is it inspired silliness, wonderful radio or country music at it's best?  All three, it's the Gene Price show from 1980 on AFRTS...

Hear Gene every morning at 6am Central on www.mybestsounds.com



Monday, September 22, 2025

Ira Cook 1967

  


Ira Cook makes the day brighter!

Hear Ira Every day at 5am Central on www.mybestsounds.com



Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Early AFN

 

Been a long time since we looked at AFN in the 1940s and 50s.  Here's some misc material from Frankfurt and Stuttgart with Bob Smith, Keith Griggs and more.



GI Jive 1945

 


In 1943 Martha Wilkerson was the voice of the girl left behind as GI Jill on on the brand new Armed Forces Radio Service. 




 
More GI Jive here

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

LaRita Shelby 1995

 

 
LaRita still keeps it happening.  Take a look at her filmography. We were lucky enough to have her doing a show for us.  This is another one of George's recordings.
 
At her website, http://www.laritashelby.com there are some wonderful videos (buy the cd!).

 

Jim Ameche 1965

 




Jim Ameche has another hour of the most beautiful music of the best orchestras from around the world.


Tuesday, September 2, 2025

AFVN Gary Gears 1968



 Here's the 1968 year end show from AFVN.  Gary Gears, who went on to great things at the best Chicago stations voices this.




Gene Price 1973

  


Gene had been doing the show for about a year, starting a quarter century of making friends around the world.

Hear Gene every morning at 7am central at www.mybestsounds.com